Arsenal injury update: Gabriel, Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz latest news and return dates | OneFootball

Gunners still without several key players ahead of key festive games

Arsenal are still dealing with injury problems as the Gunners prepare for some key games in the title race after Christmas.

Ben White was unavailable for the match with a hamstring injury, though Leandro Trossard was back in the starting line-up for the first time since November.

Riccardo Calafiori returned from suspension on Merseyside but he gave Mikel Arteta a fresh defensive injury worry as he went down late in the first half and had to receive treatment before continuing.

Two points clear of Manchester City in the title race, Arsenal face crunch fixtures against Aston Villa and Bournemouth in the Premier League after Christmas. Before then, they face Crystal Palace on Tuesday in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.

Gabriel

Gabriel has now missed eight Arsenal games since suffering an adductor injury while playing for Brazil in November.

The centre-back back has been sorely missed but Arteta revealed last week that he has now returned to individual training as he targets a comeback.

Speaking ahead of the Everton game, Arteta said: “He's pushing hard as he always does every time he's out. He’s evolving really well, he’s doing pitch sessions. He’s not too far.

“We have to see in the last stages of that rehab how he progresses but we’re quite positive about it.”

Potential return date: Late December/January

Gabriel has been sidelined since November

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Riccardo Calafiori

Arsenal were given a fresh injury scare when Riccardo Calafiori went down in first-half injury time at Everton.

Calafiori landed heavily after an aerial duel and received treatment on the pitch for several minutes.

He came off the pitch but promptly returned to action and went on to complete the full 90 minutes.

Arteta provided no update on his condition post-match, suggesting there will be no lasting impact.

Potential return date: December 23 vs Crystal Palace (H)

Riccardo Calafiori received several minutes of treatment after suffering a heavy fall against Everton

AFP via Getty Images

Kai Havertz

In issuing a positive update on Gabriel’s condition last week, Arteta also gave an encouraging update on Kai Havertz.

The German striker suffered a knee injury on the opening weekend of the season and was forced to undergo surgery.

He then suffered a setback in his recovery in November but Arteta believes he could also return to full-team training soon.

"Progressing really well and quite fast in the last few weeks,” said Arteta. “We're really positive that if everything continues like that, in the next training sessions he's going to be with us quite soon."

Asked if he had a specific match in mind for Havertz to return, Arteta added: “I do. I don’t want to say it because again I think in that last part of the rehab, especially after such a long time, we need to be cautious.

“We need to go really firm with every step we take along the way to make sure that when he’s back, he’s back and he’s back for the long term.”

Potential return date: Late December/January 2026

Ben White

Ben White came off with a hamstring injury as Arsenal edged past Wolves on December 13.

Arteta was not immediately optimistic, describing the issue as “bad news.”

There was better news last week, though. Speaking ahead of the Everton clash, Arteta revealed the injury was not as bad as first feared.

"He's out. He's evolving well. It’s not major injury but it will keep him out for a few games.

Ben White was forced off with an injury against Wolves

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“I don’t think it’s going to be [major]. Ben is a really fast healer as well so let's hope that we're going to have him in the next few games."

To have White back within ‘a few games’ would suggest a return could be possible before the turn of the year, if not in the early days of 2026.

Potential return date: December 30 vs Aston Villa (H)

Cristhian Mosquera

Cristhian Mosquera has been sidelined with what has been described as a “complicated” ankle injury, and Arteta is yet to confirm when he might return to the pitch.

“He's going to be out for weeks unfortunately, it's much more than what we expected,” Arteta said. “But the player was feeling it, so he's going to be out for weeks.”

Some reports from early December claimed Mosquera could be sidelined for as long as six to eight weeks, suggesting a potential return in mid-January.

Potential return date: January 2026

Max Dowman

Max Dowman sustained an ankle ligament injury in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Manchester United a few weeks ago.

His injury is not expected to require surgery, but he has been replaced in Arsenal’s Champions League squad by Gabriel Jesus.

Arteta said: “With Max, unfortunately, he picked up an injury last weekend, and he had to come off, so we did some scans and he is going to be out for weeks.”

Potential return date: February 2026